Anyone heard of or have any info on a machine named "astro power 180". I have a line on this unit used, haven't seen it or anything....I figure it's 180 amp. Maybe it's manufactured by who?:confused:

I haven't heard of that though, but you'll run into a lot of cheaper brands w/ off names. My welding teacher said on a similar note---Don't buy an off brand cuz if somethin goes wrong where do you take it?? Stick w/Miller, Lincoln, Hobart... all good reputations, I prefer the power of blue myself

what he said. 'cept go with red.

MILLER.

So nobody likes ESAB?

Ed

or Airco ;)

Or Chicago-Electric? - j/k

Just wanted to add my two cents...
ESAB real good welder as long as it is 220! I use one at work and it works real good!
Miller/ hobart (blue power) both are excellant machine I have a hobart at my house and it has done alot of work!
lincoln also makes a stout box also!
I would not waste my money on a off brand! unless it was 200-300 dollars cheaper... I had a clarke a while ago and the thing really would let you done!
good luck with your purchase!

Miller Miller miller:usa: :usa: :usa:

All I can say is - go with Big Blue - Miller!!!

:D:D:D:D:D

http://rps4wd.com/rps/kendo/Miller210_four.JPG

Notice the very large MADE IN THE USA sticker at the bottom? :D

I got my "blue" from Santa

The Miller 210s (and up) like those pictured are sweet machines, but way too $$$ for most DIY guys. I just bought a Miller 175 for $635 a few days ago, and I finally got to use it yesterday. Man, it is SWEET. The complete setup with 2 large rolls of wire, extra contact tips, welding shield, cart, gas (75/25) and regulator was right at $800. The 2## series starts at about $500 more and goes WAY up from there (but you don't need a cart :p ).

Like the others, I suggest going name brand. Obviously I like Miller. It's cheaper than a comparable Lincoln and the quality of most every component seems superior. The Hobart is cheaper than the Miller but I didn't think the savings was justified. I didn't like the over-all Hobart quality as well, especially the plastic drive (which can be upgraded if it brakes) but there were other things. Anyway, good luck. Man, I had forgotten how much I like having a welder handy!

as we used to say in my HS metal shop class HOOOOOOOBAAARRT. I love mine, it was the right price, came with the gas kit (unlike the red one) and makes awesome welds. now i just gotta build a cart for it.

Dallas

Originally posted by BadDog
The Miller 210s (and up) like those pictured are sweet machines, but way too $$$ for most DIY guys. I just bought a Miller 175 for $635 a few days ago,

I was looking at the 175 but when Miller was giving away a spool gun with the 210 it made little sense to buy the 175!

get a miller you won't want a lincoln, they are harder to set up and don't seem to do as good as the millers!

220 units can be expensive, thats for sure. I picked up my MM200 for bout what you paid for your 175 though. So its a little used.. but everything had been reciently replaced, and the guy had just added a pulser to it :D

I to am with the croud go Miller!!! When I worked at a fab shop all we had was a Lincon and I liked it but prefered my Miller over it any day:D

Originally posted by Old Scout


I was looking at the 175 but when Miller was giving away a spool gun with the 210 it made little sense to buy the 175!

what did you end up paying if you dont mind.
they are having some good deals Lately
at the AG shows
Adam,

Originally posted by Adam Ant


what did you end up paying if you dont mind.
they are having some good deals Lately
at the AG shows
Adam,

I know better than hold back a price to you! :flipoff2:
it was $1050.00 to my door , spool gun and all

Originally posted by mike
220 units can be expensive, thats for sure. I picked up my MM200 for bout what you paid for your 175 though. So its a little used.. but everything had been reciently replaced, and the guy had just added a pulser to it :D
Wanna trade? :rasta:

I would have gone with a good used 200 series for $635 in a heart beat, especially with a pulser and recent update. I looked for about 4 months for a good used welder and most that I found were almost as much $$$ as a new one, or a complete POS. I wish I had jumped on the deals Miller had back in December but, oh well, money and time was tight so I wound up waiting and paying more. If they still had the 210s with a spool gun for $1035 I might go ahead and fork that out too. But, really, the spool gun wouldn't do me that much good. It would sure be cool to be able to do aluminum once in a while but, WTF, would I ever get the $400 value out of a spool gun + 210s capabilities vs. my 175? IMO, probably not.

You can still find the Miller :usa: 210 with the spool gun at local welding shops. A & R welding in Paso Robles still had 5 of them. I just bought mine about a week ago for $1200. :D

If you don't need the spoolgun you could always sell it and then your right at $800.

hobart is owned by miller! blue is some good shiznit!!!!

Originally posted by BadDog
The Miller 210s (and up) like those pictured are sweet machines, but way too $$$ for most DIY guys. I just bought a Miller 175 for $635 a few days ago, and I finally got to use it yesterday. Man, it is SWEET. The complete setup with 2 large rolls of wire, extra contact tips, welding shield, cart, gas (75/25) and regulator was right at $800. The 2## series starts at about $500 more and goes WAY up from there (but you don't need a cart :p ).

Like the others, I suggest going name brand. Obviously I like Miller. It's cheaper than a comparable Lincoln and the quality of most every component seems superior. The Hobart is cheaper than the Miller but I didn't think the savings was justified. I didn't like the over-all Hobart quality as well, especially the plastic drive (which can be upgraded if it brakes) but there were other things. Anyway, good luck. Man, I had forgotten how much I like having a welder handy!

Miller makes the Hobart machines.... All of the parts are Miller..

Well, I might as well chime in with my $.02.

Hobart/Miller all the way. If you have to have 110, then the HH or MM 135 are sweet machines and pack quite a punch. If at all possible though, go 220 and get a 175. I've got the Hobart myself and it is a damn fine unit. Miller is great and all, but for me, the infinite voltage adjustability really wasn't that big of a concern to warrant the extra $$$.

Coming from someone who used to own a cheapo off-brand unit, DON'T. Parts are a royal pain in the ass depending on what you have, and the quality just isn't there. Yes, it was a good deal at the time and it did serve its purpose for me, but I would never waste my money like that again.

Originally posted by FlatTaco
Miller makes the Hobart machines.... All of the parts are Miller..
I know that. But the quality is definitely lower. Drives are plastic, housing is cheaper, etc. But, it does look like the "Miller" parts will bolt into the "Hobart" box if you wanted to upgrade the drive and such. It just looked to me like the extra money for the "up scale" machine was worth it, so that's what I got.

sweet so the backorderd miller 210 's are arriving. :D guy said mine might be here this week... but he's been saying for 3 weeks :rolleyes: the christmas deal on those things was irrestable but the 2 month wait sure has sucked.

Originally posted by BadDog

I know that. But the quality is definitely lower. Drives are plastic, housing is cheaper, etc. But, it does look like the "Miller" parts will bolt into the "Hobart" box if you wanted to upgrade the drive and such. It just looked to me like the extra money for the "up scale" machine was worth it, so that's what I got.

Oops! My bad.... :D I have used both, a buddy of mine here on the board has a Miller 175... Nice machine...I like it alot. And another bud of mine...also on this board recently bought the Hobart 175.. Ran just as nice of a bead as the Miller and it has a feature on it that the Miller 175 does not. A "purge" setting on the front of the machine so you can "purge" air out of the line or set reg. pressure without disconecting the drive wheel. Thats what ultimatley made my decision to buy the Hobart 175 for myself... :D and the free cart that came with it... :D

Originally posted by Old Scout


I know better than hold back a price to you! :flipoff2:
it was $1050.00 to my door , spool gun and all




LOL

thats a great deal through who??

No hard feeling's EH!


Adam,:D :flipoff2:

Originally posted by Putzboy
All I can say is - go with Big Blue - Miller!!!

:D:D:D:D:D

http://rps4wd.com/rps/kendo/Miller210_four.JPG

Notice the very large MADE IN THE USA sticker at the bottom? :D

:D NIce machine...

Man, you guys suck! :flipoff2: Here I was happy with my 175, very happy even. Now you done got me wishing I had forked out for the 210 and a spool gun. Not that I really need it but, damn, I wish I had one. :D

Originally posted by poppycock
sweet so the backorderd miller 210 's are arriving. :D guy said mine might be here this week... but he's been saying for 3 weeks :rolleyes: the christmas deal on those things was irrestable but the 2 month wait sure has sucked.

Yea, the 2 month wait DID suck, but the last few hours of that is what really got to me. :D The guy from the shipping company called me last Thursday to say they had it and would deliver it Friday. A couple hours later the truck driver called and said he had it on the truck and was in the area. I had the Heep, but said fawk it, bring it, I'll figure out how to get it home. Made the wife drive over with the pick 'em up and loaded her up.

I absolutely LOVE it!! Haven't used the spoolgun yet, but if it works half as well as the regular, I will be in heaven. :D

I ordered mine thru Cyberweld on Dec 24th and got it Feb 21st. $1100 delivered to my door (work). Old Scout beat me by $50!! Damn!

Originally posted by FlatTaco


Oops! My bad.... :D I have used both, a buddy of mine here on the board has a Miller 175... Nice machine...I like it alot. And another bud of mine...also on this board recently bought the Hobart 175.. Ran just as nice of a bead as the Miller and it has a feature on it that the Miller 175 does not. A "purge" setting on the front of the machine so you can "purge" air out of the line or set reg. pressure without disconecting the drive wheel. Thats what ultimatley made my decision to buy the Hobart 175 for myself... :D and the free cart that came with it... :D

Same here. Used both, prefer the Hobart unless you do a lot of really off-sized material and are picky enough to necessitate the infinite voltage adjustability. Yes, the Hobart uses a plastic mount for the drive rollers as opposed to the Miller aluminum. However, the plastic is rather thick and of good quality. I really can't see it breaking unless you smack it with a sledge or something. Assuming that you do damage it, the Millermatic aluminum mount bolts right in place of it. So, you get the purge setting (which has saved me LOTS of wire) and the exact same internals, but without the same voltage adjustment. Plenty good in my book. I've done all different sizes and haven't had a problem with too much or too little voltage.

I absolutely LOVE it!! Haven't used the spoolgun yet, but if it works half as well as the regular, I will be in heaven.
do you guys even know what the spool gun is for? it is for softer alluminum wire which is not strong enough to be pushed through the liner. it isn't just another place to put a spool of steel wire. welding with a full.035 steel wire loaded spool gun would be miserable. i have tried using alluminum wire in a smaller mig and it bird nested constantly. spool guns are nice to have for welding alluminum.

FWIW, I have been using a Miller. Miller-matic 250X digital model(now the 251) for about the last year and am very pleased with it's versatility. I use it for everything except the thinnest sheetmetal. I have a little Lincoln for that stuff. Running .035 mild steel wire.
Steve

Originally posted by high traveler

do you guys even know what the spool gun is for? it is for softer alluminum wire which is not strong enough to be pushed through the liner. it isn't just another place to put a spool of steel wire. welding with a full.035 steel wire loaded spool gun would be miserable. i have tried using alluminum wire in a smaller mig and it bird nested constantly. spool guns are nice to have for welding alluminum.

Yea I know what's it's for :flipoff2:
There is $200 worth of 6061 sitting in the shop and I dropped 160 for a bottle of Argon! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :flipoff2:

Nice spelling of aluminum:rolleyes: !

Old scout (or anyone else)

have you tried welding aluminium with the spool gun on the 210 yet?

are they better than the older ones were? Never could get it and even more experienced people were having issues.

The rover manual says you can readily gas weld aluminium too but somehow "readily" does not apply to my attempts!

Ron

Originally posted by Old Scout


Yea I know what's it's for :flipoff2:
There is $200 worth of 6061 sitting in the shop and I dropped 160 for a bottle of Argon! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :flipoff2:

Nice spelling of aluminum:rolleyes: !

Bwahahahahahaha

Yea, I know it's for aluminum too!! I was merely making the comparison to how well the regular gun works with welding steel, if the spoolgun works half as well with aluminum, I'll be chittin in high cotton. Damn, I didn't know I was going to have to expalin myself. :rolleyes:

Well OS, I guess I beat you on the tank deal, I grabbed 2 Ar/CO2 cylinders and a 33lb spool of wire for $150. :D Ar tank is on it's way, same kind of deal. :D

I like both my Lincolns...but then what do I know?:flipoff2:

Nice spelling of aluminum !
i said i know how to weld, i didn't say i know how to spell

my welder has paid for itself many times now - it was $399 to my door then I bought a tank (it came with the regulater n stuff).

Can't say any of my welds have broke, and I have not had to grind or finish em off cause they are pretty outa the gun :)

I got the hobart 135, I got a bad gun and I called up hobart and they next day aired me a new one along with some other spare parts (knobs, etc) no questions asked! That is service..

I HIGHLY reccomend them, if you are debating check out the hobart bbs - good info there, don't be afraid to post :)

OK....many thanks to TB76Bronco to pointing out who has welders with a Spool Gun still in the west....Mines on order boys and no more 110 Mig for me from the rental center......just wish I would of had it 2 years ago.......thanks again

Brandon got a smoking deal. :smokin:


After extensive use of the search button on the Pirate board and search engines on the web the best I could find on my Hobart Handler 135 was $430 shipped to my door in AZ.

I am with Old Scout on this all the way. I upgraded to a Miller 250X a few months back and sold my Miller Challenger 172. Both are Great machines and if i ever need a portable 220 or 110 unit i will go with Miller again. The spoolguns are nice and the SP-30 for the 250X weld like a dream with some slight practice.

Welding is like superglue for big kids. :cool:

Later i gotta go weld up more hidden u-bolt plate kits to make some $$$$ for Project X.

http://www.backcountrybinders.com/project_X.htm
Check it out and let me know what ya think.

Fleckster